Being fully human - the miracle of hands
As the days shorten and leaves fall, nature gives us a new invitation to notice, to observe, to be present. Here at Taruna the long views of the mountains to the west and the sea to the north are reappearing day-by-day. The cloak of leaves is gradually being pared back and we find ourselves again taking the long view and finding new insights. We notice how calming, reassuring and beautiful that can be.
One of the central themes our learning programmes pose is 'What is it to be fully human?'. One answer we can find in the miracle of our hands. Hands with their flexibility, their nimble fingers and thumbs and their central resting palm are that five-pointed expression of the true human being. They offer us endless possibilities for being creative that we may contribute to others and the world. It is from hands that we can know healing forces, through touch we can receive blessing, and when we rest our hands quietly together those active forces that so willingly serve the world, can turn quietly to become a calm inner strength.
Even our language expresses the wonder of hands: we handle a problem, we grapple with a new idea, we grasp new understanding, we touch into a new subject, we hold ourselves back.
Our hands then are tools of the human spirit - through the choice, possibility and creativity they allow we are freely enabled to be fully human.
In honour of the hand, here at Taruna in June we are offering 'Winter Craft Warmers' - Saturday workshops with master craftspeople who will enable you to find new ways to express your creativity and find new inner warmth. We hope you take up the opportunity.
With warm greetings
Lauren, Deb and Rosie
Leadership Council
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